1.   After a poll commissioned by the county found support for the arena construction plan, the local pursuit team worked to avert a referendum.

2.   The question remaining is whether the outside world, including the West as well as other African countries, can work to avert them.

3.   Both sides were working to avert open conflict.

4.   Senior U.N. officials are working to avert a full-scale war that would engulf both Croatia and Bosnia.

5.   The international community has been working to avert an outbreak of war between India and Pakistan.

6.   While Palestinian police worked to avert attacks, the peace talks were getting nowhere, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Friday.

7.   The government has said it is working to avert major power cuts following a shortage in electricity supplies.